Ditches in the Desert

The Story

The king of Moab rebelled against Israel. So King Jehoram of Israel joined forces with King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom, and the three armies marched out the long way, through the wilderness of Edom.

After seven days, they ran out of water. There was nothing for the soldiers or the animals to drink. The king of Israel despaired. But Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of the Lord nearby. There was: Elisha.

Elisha called for a musician, and as the music played, the word of the Lord came to him. “Make this valley full of ditches,” he said. You won’t see wind, and you won’t see rain. But this valley will be filled with water, and you and your animals will drink. “And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD.” He will give you Moab too.

So the soldiers dug ditches across a dry valley under a clear sky.

The next morning, water came flowing in from the direction of Edom, and the land was filled with it.

Across the valley, the Moabites rose early and saw the sun shining red on the water. They thought it was blood. The kings must have fought each other, they said. Now, Moab, to the spoil! They rushed into the camp, expecting to collect plunder, and instead met the armies of Israel, who drove them back.

Reflection